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Post by pghram on Jan 24, 2017 12:25:54 GMT -5
I know that this has been discussed before but I am curious what you are doing w/ the backs of your cabs. For years I didn't do anything w/ them, but I have recently started to take them up to 1200. So, what are you doing & why? Thanks!
Peace,
Rich
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NDK
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Post by NDK on Jan 24, 2017 12:37:28 GMT -5
For me it all depends on how the back looks. If it's a smooth slab already from the saw I just clean it up after removing the dop stick. Very seldom do I polish the back anymore. A matte finish is usually good enough.
If it would be a specimen cab I think a polish would be beneficial.
With the few smithed pieces I've done the back has been no issue since it's hidden. Once I transition to silver that may change as the cost goes way up.
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Post by accidentalrockhound on Jan 24, 2017 13:18:23 GMT -5
I was leaving the backs as is on mine but the last cabb i did i cleaned up the edge and finished to 400 and was happy with the look,
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Jan 24, 2017 16:41:19 GMT -5
I don't sell mine. For personal use, I only polish the back once I decide to set it and if it's going to be an open back setting. Otherwise, no way. Way too much of a pain in the ass. If you're selling though, I would think polishing (at least up to 1200) would increase the saleability enough to make it worthwhile.
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Erich
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Post by Erich on Jan 24, 2017 22:57:35 GMT -5
Since I'm new at cabbing I've been going to 1400 and often polishing to 50k, just for the practice.
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 25, 2017 0:53:11 GMT -5
I usually polish the backs. I just make it part of the routine and it doesn't take long. I've been cataloguing a bunch of older cabs and some are unpolished but I'll get around to it.
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Post by bobby1 on Jan 25, 2017 13:58:41 GMT -5
I always polish the backs to the same quality as the front as well as a small bevel on the back line of the girdle. It's the way I was taught almost 60 years ago. Bob
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Jan 25, 2017 14:16:56 GMT -5
Slabs that will sit in backed & bezelled settings don't need polishing at all. There are some nice cabs that I've polished the backs. For translucent cabs that will sit in mounts with no back then polishing will help to transmit the light rather than scattering it back, so yes, it would be worthwhile in this instance.
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 25, 2017 19:37:55 GMT -5
I recall a story about a famous cabinet-maker that embodies my attitude on this. A visitor to his workshop noticed him sanding and finishing the backs of drawers and interior parts of his creations. The visitor asked: "Why are you doing all that intricate work? Your clients will never know whether they're finished or not."
"I will," said the craftsman.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Jan 26, 2017 10:41:48 GMT -5
I recall a story about a famous cabinet-maker that embodies my attitude on this. A visitor to his workshop noticed him sanding and finishing the backs of drawers and interior parts of his creations. The visitor asked: "Why are you doing all that intricate work? Your clients will never know whether they're finished or not." "I will," said the craftsman. A story it is, I believe! I used to work in an Antiques shop / warehouse shipping cabinets / wardrobes / dressers etc across Europe: we're talking anything from French Renaissance to local Mousey-Thompson and many un-named works. I'm still to see a finished back to a cabinet, even one costing £10,000. Pounds, not Dollars - back then it was 1:2! There's no point to finishing the back of a cab that will sit in a closed back. Polishing it isn't logical, captain.
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Don
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Post by Don on Jan 26, 2017 11:17:20 GMT -5
I don't polish backs. For those that do, are you using flat laps, or is there some trick to polishing flats on wheels that I don't know about?
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 26, 2017 12:05:40 GMT -5
I don't polish backs. For those that do, are you using flat laps, or is there some trick to polishing flats on wheels that I don't know about? Yes there's a "trick" but it's hard to explain. I could show you in a minute or two but putting it into words is difficult. It works only if you don't use dops. Basically it involves holding the stone by the top against the wheel with your fingers and rotating it a half turn back and forth repeatedly. I usually start with the 220 hard wheel to eliminate saw marks, then repeat at each stage through the soft wheel sequence, checking often for scratches. Usually 25-30 rotations is sufficient at each stage unless the saw marks or scratches are deep. It's a little repetitive but gets results. When I'm cutting I never know what eventual use the cab will be put to. I polish the backs as a matter of good workmanship, but to each his own.
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Post by pghram on Jan 26, 2017 13:23:48 GMT -5
I don't sell mine. For personal use, I only polish the back once I decide to set it and if it's going to be an open back setting. Otherwise, no way. Way too much of a pain in the ass. If you're selling though, I would think polishing (at least up to 1200) would increase the saleability enough to make it worthwhile. I've never sold a cab either, but the thought has crossed my mind. I agree that in that case it probably would be helpful, especially for a wire-wrapper. Peace, Rich
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Post by pghram on Jan 26, 2017 13:25:12 GMT -5
I don't polish backs. For those that do, are you using flat laps, or is there some trick to polishing flats on wheels that I don't know about? Yes, I'm using a flat lap & hard laps from 180 thru 1200. Peace, Rich
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Erich
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Post by Erich on Jan 26, 2017 13:33:10 GMT -5
I've been doing pretty much as Gemfeller has described.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Jan 26, 2017 13:42:06 GMT -5
I have a flat lap and I'll grind the dop mark off the back to #1200. I don't consider that to be polished.
Yes, for wire-wrapping that would make sense.
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cabjunky
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Post by cabjunky on Jan 26, 2017 15:29:40 GMT -5
I sell cabs at most of the shows that I do. I always polish the backs through at least 1200 because I do not know if they are wire wrapping, silver smithing, or just collecting cabs. If I know it will be set in silver I will cut the bevel on the back, but will not polish it.
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Post by Tonyterner on Feb 5, 2017 12:45:34 GMT -5
I polish the backs to the same level as the front on all of my cabochons. I've found that buyers, especially wire wrappers, like the back finished. I also bevel the back edge so silver workers can easily set them in silver.
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peachfront
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Post by peachfront on Feb 7, 2017 23:13:46 GMT -5
I have been doing the final polishing rounds in the tumbler to save labor so both sides get polished. Wire wrappers do like it.
However, there is an argument to be made that very high end cabs are not polished on the back. It's proof the polish didn't come from a tumbler. Although I think there's a way to fake this by putting a wax or some similar coating on the side you wish to leave unpolished (haven't actually tried the trick in question so I'm not sure).
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Post by melhill1659 on Feb 8, 2017 10:34:40 GMT -5
I'm not a professional of anything so... here's my 2 cents. I don't polish the back of my cabs out of personal preference. I get enjoyment out of seeing the front all beautiful and Hopefully shiny then turning it over and getting a reminder of where it all started!!! If I'm ever commissioned or asked to polish the back I will.
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